Device for opening jars



Feb. 18, 1936. H. J. LEBHERZ. 2,031,420 a DEVICE FOR OPENINGJARS Filed Sept. 1, 1933 {Sheets-Sheet 1 Ila-l 4 Z v v g9 F 1 1 H. J. LEBHERZ 2,031,420

DEVICE FOR OPENING JARS Filed Sept. 1, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented F eh. I 18, 1936 PATENT oFnc DEVICE FOR OPENING .mns

Harry J. Lebherz, Frederick, Md., assignor to The Everedy Company, Frederick, Md., a corporation of Maryland 6 Claims.

My invention relates broadly to kitchen utensils and, more particularly to an improved device for opening jars and opening caps from bottles and vide an improved construction of combination tool adapted for performing a multiplicity of different operations including the opening of screw cap fruit jars and other receptacles of various diameters, the removal of crown caps from hottles and the removal of seal caps from food containers.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of cover and cap removing 'tool adapted for universal usages and wherein the tool is pressed as a single piece from sheet metal.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of universal tool having sets of cap engaging jaws which are inclined angularly with respect to each other for gripping screw caps of various diameters and for effecting the removal thereof from food containers in combination with means for removing crown or sealed caps from othertypes of food containers.

A further object 'of my invention is to provide a simplified construction of stamped metal jar cap or cover removing tool having capor cover gripping means disposed in various oiiset planes for efiecting the removal of caps or covers from difierentclasses of receptacles.

A still further object of my invention is to prohereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the kitchen utensil constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on line-3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the device showing the same in the act of removing the screw top cap of a Mason jar; Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the device showing the same in the position as used when removing an anchor cap from a preserve jar and the like; Fig. 7 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 8 is a bottom plan Application September 1, 1933, Serial No. 687,852

view of the device showing the same in the position to remove a crown cap from a bottle; Fig. 9

is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 10 is a top plan view showing a modified construction of kitchen utensil embodying my invention; Fig. 11 is a cen- 5 tral vertical longitudinal section taken on line lll| of Fig. 10; Fig.'12 is a transverse vertical section taken on line l2l2 of Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a transverse vertical section taken on line l3l3 of Fig.- 10; Fig. 14 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line l4-l iv of Fig. 11; Fig. 15 is a perspective View of the device showing the same arranged in a position to remove the screw top cap of a Mason jar; Fig. 16 is a detailed sectional view taken on line l6l6 of Fig. 15';Fig. 17 is a perspective View of the device showing the same arranged to remove a crown cap from a bottle; Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing the device arranged to remove the anchor cap of a preserve jar; and Fig. 19 is a perspective view showing the device in 'the act of removing a threaded bottle cap.

My invention is directed to a simplified construction, of tool for opening jars and removing caps from bottles and food containers wherein the device is stamped from a single piece of sheet metal and-provided with a securing handle for efiecting manual operation of the tool. The tool of my invention is provided with two sets of ooacting jaws disposed in difierent horizontal planes spaced one from the other. The sets of. jaws are inclined toward each other on'opposite sides of a central axis through the operating handle of the tool. The stamping tapers from a maximum width at the remote extremity of the 35 tool to a minimum width adjacent the handle end of the tool. The outer peripheral edges of the tool are turned over and directed toward each other and on these edges, serrations or oppositely directed teeth are formed for gripping a screw cap such as the cover of a Mason fruit jar. The fact that the serrated or toothed edges are inclined toward each other enables the covers of jars of varying sizes to be gripped and removed by a simple twisting operation of the manually operative tool. The sheet metal blank from which the tool of my invention is formed is provided with slotted portions which are inclined toward each other. The outer peripheral edges of the slotted portions are each provided with serrations or teeth directed toward each other for grippingtherebetween the screw cap of food containers of different sizes within a smaller range of sizes than the sizes of covers to which the other set of jaws may be applied. A central portion of 2 e,os1,42o

the tool intermediate the aforesaid slotted portions is onistt uck to provide a crown cap or sealed cover engaging tongue against which, pressnrc may be exerted by the angular movement of handle of the device for prying a crown cap or sealed cover from a bottle or food receptacle. In a. simplified form oi my invention, I eliminate central portion of the blank and instead of providing the two slotted. portions therein, the 19 entire center of the blank is removed. In this I rm. of my invention, the lug which serves for removal of crown caps is formed on the blank atoscent the handle portion thereof and inter mediate the inner serrated jaws. The remote end 35 of the blank is ofiset from the central portion of the blank to facilitate the operation of the tool in the removal of anchor caps from sealed food containers. The several diflerent cap engaging endremoving means are disposed in different 23 horizontal planes spaced one from another.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character I designates a metallic blank or stampihg which is pressed from a single piece of sheet a metal for forming the bottle cap and jar cover removing tool of my invention. The blank I is provided with a central portion 2 which is pressed into a plane offset from the plane of the side portions 3 and 4 of the blank. The laterally extending end portion 02 the blank which connects the side portions 3 and 4 is oilset from the plane of the side portions 3 and 4, as represented at 5. The central portion 2 connects with the laterally extending portion 5 and is tapered to a. position adjacent the opposite end of the blank- The blank is provided with a pair of diagonal slots on a of the blank to which the tongue 1 is integrally connected. The tongue 1 receives handle 8 thereon. The tongue Tis wedged into the internal bore la in handle 8 and is provided with a ferrule l which abuts against the edge of the lateral portion 6 of the blank I. The central portion 2 of the blank is strengthened by means of. an outstruck rib I2 which divides and extends along opposite portions of the central portion 2, as

represented at H and I5. In order to further strengthen the tool, the lateral portion 6 of the tool is provided with outstruck ribs I! and II which are directed generally toward the side portions 3 and 4 of the blank. An intermediate extension of the strengthening rib is provided at ll directed along the central portion 2 of the blank and terminating adiacent the upstruck bend H! which raises central portion 2 into the plane of the laterally extending portion 5 above the plane of the side portions I and 4; The handle portion I of the blank is strengthened by means of the longitudinally extending rib ll struck from the metal of the tongue I, as shown. 'Ihe several 05 ribs serve to stiffen the tool both longitudinally and laterally thereby permitting the tool to be safely used as a lever in the removal of caps and covers from bottles and receptacles.

The side portions 8 and 4 of the blank are provided with opposltcly directed jaws having semtionsorteeththcreinatfland 2|. Thcteeth II and 2| are directed toward each other and nerve to grip screw caps of different diameters for mectingthcremovulof such screwcapsupon theawl cationofatwistingtomueagflmtthc handle 8. The outer peripheries of the side portions 3 and 4 of the blank are turned over and are directed toward each other in a horizontal plane which is spaced from the horizontal plane which wntains the side portions 3 and 4. The 5 outer peripheries of the side portions 3 and 4 are provided with teeth or serrations 22 and 23 therein which are directed toward each other. The teeth or serrations 22 and 23 taper toward each other so that screw caps on jars of different diam- 10 eters may be engaged and removed by a simple twist of the tool.

The central portion of the blank I is upstruck in a position adiacent the laterally extending portion 5 to provide 2:. lug 25 which is bent up 15 wardly from the material removed from aperture 24 in the blank for thereby providing an engaging lug adapted for prying crown caps or seal caps from bottles or jars. The lug 25 is disposed in a plane which is offset from the plane of I the teeth 20 20 and 2! on the jaws formed by the side portions 3 and 4 and also offset from the plane of the serrations or teeth shown at 22 and 23 on the rolled over edges of the side portions 3 and 4 of the blank. The rib I2 in the central portion 2 ex- :5 tends longitudinally of the lug 25 for thereby strengthening the lug for use in prying operations.

As illustrated in Figure 5, the toolv may be slipped over the screw cap of a jar to a position in which the teeth 22 and 23 engage the jar cap 3.)

for permitting a. screw operation thereon for effooting the removal of the cap.

In the case of anchor caps or friction seal caps which are used on many types of food containers, as designated for example at 28 in Figures 6 and 33 7, the tool of my invention has the laterally extending portion 5 resting upon the top of cap 28 while the lug 25 engages the lower peripheral edge 1 of the skirt of the cap 26 allowing the tool to be used for purposes of prying the seal cap from the 40 jar or food container. 4

The tool of my invention is particularly useful in removing crimp or crown caps from bottles. In Figs. 8 and 9, I have shown the manner in which the laterally extending portion I of the tool 45 is rested upon the top of a crown cap 21 secured on bottle 28 with the lug 2i hooked beneath the lower edge of the skirt of the crown cap 2'! preparatory to movement of the tool as a lever for prying the cap from the bottle.

Figures 10-19 illustrate a modified form of the tool of my invention. In this construction of tool; the blank I has the central portion thereof wholly struck out and removed, as represented at 3B. The lug which is employed for removing 55 seal caps or crown caps is formed, integrally with the blank 6 adjacent the lateral end portion 4 thereof, as represented at II. The lug II is disposed in a plane which is oflsct from the plane of the serrated edges 2. and II and the serrated co edges 22 and 23 on the rolled over peripheries of the side portions 8 and 4. In both forms of the tool of my invention, the three different cap rcmoving means are disposed in different horizontal planes spaced one from another. I employ the ossame method of strengthening the side portions I one and thetongue 'l' asprovidedinthe form of my invention illustrated in Figures 1-9, that is, ribs l1 and-ll and central rib II which extend longimdlnallv of the lug II. The rib II is formed 70 in the tongue I for strenz ening the tongue which extends through the bore la in handle 8. Therows ofteeth 2| and and the rowsof teeth 22 and 28, in the form of my invention illustrated inFlg. maresbowndispoledonsllightcum n or are. Such an arrangement has the advantage of enabling a multiplicity of adjacent teeth to be brought into engagement with the surface of the screw cap which is to be removed. More purchase of the tool with respect to the screw cap is thereby obtained allowing the torque force to be more effective for removing the screw cap. The teeth 22 and 23 which are formed on the rolled over peripheral edges of the side portions 3 and 4 are inclined downwardly, as represented more clearly in Figs. 12 and 13 to afford a better grip on the cap which is to be removed.

Figure 15 illustrates in perspective view the manner in which the tool of my invention is operated for gripping the screw cap 32 of a Mason fruit jar indicated at 33. The rows of teeth 22 and 23 grip the upper portion of the cap 32 and serve to apply aturning torque thereto as the handle 8 of the tool twisted, as represented in Fig. 15. The manner in which the rows of teeth grip the cap 32 has been shown more clearly in Fig. 16.

The manner of employing the tool of Fig. 10 to remove crimp or crown caps is shown in Fig. 1'7 wherein the crown cap 21 on bottle 28 is shown as providing a bearing surface for the cap 21 while lug 3| grips the lower peripheral edge of the skirt of the crown cap 21 for ejecting the cap from the bottle.

In Figure 18, I have shown the manner in which the friction or seal cap 26 is removed from jar 34 and in which the laterally extending end portion 5 is gripped beneath the lower edge of the skirt of the cap 26 while the side portions 3 and 4 serve as bearing means with respect to the cap 26 for raising the cap 26 from the container 34.

' Figure l9 shows the application of the tool of my invention to a screw cap of relatively small diameter. The screw cap 35 is removed from the receptacle 36 by inserting the tool with the rows of teeth 20 and 2| thereon on opposite sides of the screw cap 35 and moving the tool to a position in which the tool grips opposite sides of the screw cap whereupon the tool may be revolved to twist the cap from the screw threaded terminus of the receptacle 36.

I have found the tool of my invention highly practical for manufacture and production inexpensively on a quantity basis, The tool is formed from a single sheet of pressed or stamped metal which renders manufacture of the device very.

preferred embodiments, I desire that it be understood that modifications may be. made and that no limitations upon my invention are intended other than are imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. A cap removing tool comprising a member including a pair of side portions tapered toward each other and laterally extending end portions interconnecting opposite ends of said side portions, and teeth formed on the opposite peripheral edges of each of said side portions, the teeth on the outer peripheral edges of said side portions being directed toward each other and extending in a plane offset from the plane of the teeth formed on the inner peripheral edges of side portions, and one of said laterally extending end portions being offset in a plane removed from the planes of said side portions and one of the interconnecting end portions of said member, and teeth formed on the opposite peripheral edges of each of said side portions comprising cap removing means for-caps bf various sizes.

3. A cap removing tool comprising a memberhaving a pair of side portions tapered toward tral portion and between said side portions in each other, laterally extending end portions interconnecting said side portions, a central portion interconnecting said laterally extending end portions, strengthening ribs disposed in said central portion and between said side portions in one of the interconnecting end portions of said member, the outer peripheral edge of each of said side portions being disposed in a plane offset from the plane of said side portions and extending in the same direction as the corresponding inner edge, and teeth formed on the opposite peripheral edges of said side portions;

4. A cap removing tool comprising a member having a pair of side portions tapered toward each other, strip members interconnecting opposite ends of said side portions, one of said strip' members being disposed in a plane offset from the plane of said side portions, a central portion interconnecting said last mentioned strip'memher with the opposite interconnecting strip memher, said side portions having their extreme outer edges directed toward each otherdn a plane offset from the plane of said side portions, and teeth formed on. the inner and outer, peripheral edges of said side portions and defining cap removing means for caps of varying sizes.

5. A cap removing tool comprising a member having a pair of side portions tapered toward each other, strip members interconnecting'opposite ends of said side portions, one of said strip members being disposed in a plane ofiset from the plane of said side portions, 9. central portion interconnecting said last mentioned strip with the opposite interconnecting strip member, said side portions having their extreme outer edges directed toward each other in a plane oifset from the plane of said side portions, teeth formedon the inner and outer peripheral edges of said side portions, and strengthening ribs outstruck from said central portion and from one of said strips interconnecting said side portions.

6. A cap removing tool comprising a member formed from a single sheet of material and having a central portion and-a pair of side portions tapered toward each other, said side portions extending in a plane offset from but parallel to the plane of said central portion, and teeth formed on opposite edges of each of said side portions;

the teeth on the outer edges of said side portions the diameter of a cap engageable between the teeth on the inner edges of said side portions.

HARRY J. LEBHERZ. 

